Guggulu
Guggulu, also known as gugulu, gugul, gugal, guggul or shudhha guggula, is a potent herbal medicine that controls the unusual weight gain and cholesterol. Some health experts, especially Ayurvedic scholars have specified guggulu as the most powerful cholesterol reducing agent known till date! Basically, guggul is a gum resin, which is produced by the stem of the plant called Commiphora mukul or Commiphora wiighti. It’s English name is Indian Bedellium. The herb guggulu has been prescribed to lower the levels of elevated cholesterol in the bloodstream while maintaining the healthy ratio between LDL and HDL.
Guggulu Health Benefits
Guggulu has been the herb of research since many centuries. In olden days, holistic healing practitioners used this resin to treat various health ailments and they discovered that the resin, if taken in proper quantity (dosage), it can prevent the heart strokes (heart attack). Also, they studied the herb guggal and revealed that the herb is useful in assuring an uninterrupted blood flow. Even modern scientists believe that shudhha guggulu can lower blood cholesterol by 15-25 per cent and can also lower triglycerides by 20-30 per cent.
With a myrrh-like fragrance, the herb is also used in making perfumes and incense sticks as it is very important material used in holy rituals in Hinduism.
Guggul Medicinal Properties
Guggulu has many beneficial properties and hence it has an intensive use in medical science, especially alternative medicines. Since the time immemorial, guggulu has been prescribed by many folk remedy practitioners to heal, prevent and cure health ailments like rheumatism (rheumatoid arthritis), neurological disorders, weight gain (obesity) and its related disorders. The herb contains guggulsterons, organic acids and some aromatic acids. It also has natural steroids, fatty acid alcohols, diterpenes, lignans and sterols.
Let us quickly glance at some of the most important guggulu indications:-
- Guggulu helps in relieving signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis
- It is useful in treating osteoarthritis
- Guggulu heals gouty arthritis (and also in such case, gout)
- Guggulu is natural anti-inflammatory agent, also helpful in urinary infections
- Guggal is also used in swelling and redness of the joints
- It is also useful in treating various health conditions such as tonsillitis and sinusitis
- Gugul is helpful in supporting a first line treatment for mental disease such as anxiety, depression, mania, hysteria and tension
Out of all, the herb guggulu is known for its prime properties of anti-obesity, anti-cholesterol and analgesic (also, anti-rheumatic medicine). Many Ayurvedic formulas (classic as well as patent) have guggulu as its main ingredients in preventing heart attack or rheumatoid attack. Along with other anti-inflammatory and natural analgesic agents (such as Ayurvedic herbs like Shallaki), guggulu has gotten the medical practitioners a winning combination to combat pain, inflammation and tenderness in joints.
Also, Ayurvedic scholars prefer to prescribe guggulu in urinary tract infection, skin ailments and oral problems like gingivitis.
Forms of Guggul and its uniqueness
Guggulu augment the formula whenever it is combined with other herbs and that is why, there are many formulas such as Kaishore Guggulu, Rasna Guggulu, Gokshuradi Guggulu, Kanchanara Guggulu, yograj guggulu, triphala guggul, singhnad gugulu those can be used to tackle various health ailments effectively.
